Reliable knight in shining armor

Once I am a few months ago in a perched village, pulled in the mountains, about 900m above sea level and has fallen 3 weeks ago in heavy snowfall around 1,5m snow, had to urgently snow chains ago, since otherwise from the outside world is cut off.

Although I had the feeling of having it well "in vain" bought for this winter, because it certainly is no longer snowing so hard ... But lo and behold, today it was already so far. Poet snowfall, mountain roads as smooth as glass and I'm stuck for the first time. Thank God already lay the servo Pewag snow chains in the boot -D

Before the adventure starts on the installation of a well-traveled mountain road ... a brief review why I have just chosen this chain:
Pewag is of course a, perhaps the most famous producers of snow chains and since my military service time quickly and easily to assemble still fond memories there. My better half has also any older Pewag chains in the car which have been assembled in less than 2 minutes per tire (assuming you know how to do it).

Originally I wanted to establish the much cheaper Pewag Brenta snow chains because I hopefully only occasional need, ie extrapolated perhaps in total to 5 days in winter for about 15 minutes to the short mountain route up down (down to get you know, always ... somehow .... ;-)). Due to the urgency I wanted me to buy at a local car accessory dealers and surveyed the Pewag Brenta. My personal impression is that the links are too thin, even as a casual user I would not feel good here, both in terms of safety and durability. After searching the internet I came to the Pewag servo, which have performed very well in tests ADAC and ÖAMTC. 5 clicks further and already she was ordered at my favorite online retailer.

A few days later they were already there, and after a brief inspection I was very pleased with the quality, especially with regard to the strength of the chain links. The mounting principle is very similar to the Pewag I knew according to accompanying manual ... but a strange, black box was there so still there of which I only did not understand the purpose. Well, if I then need expectant ego already find out I thought ;-)

So, today, now I had to figure it out allerschnellstens - stuck on a steep mountain road in the thickest snowfall, uff .... :-(
The assembly instructions are very easy to understand. Chains around the tires around, similar to other quick-release systems, however, one must note the direction of these, which is however marked by a red part on the chain. The difference is now, lo and behold, this is the principle of self-tensioner that in this black box, a steel cable is hidden, which you can pull out to secure it on the other side of the chain with a hook. After turning the switch on the box of "Open" to "Drive" and the rope is stretched by itself ... awesome :-)

The ride with the chains went smoothly, very smoothly and I am very very happy to have chosen this chain. I only give 4 out of 5 stars because the steel cable for my tires (195 / 65-15) a tad too short and there a little "Murkserei" needed until you can then hook. Would it be just 1 cm longer it would be no problem at all. Otherwise full purchase recommendation.

Addendum: even the removal of the chain is easier than at other chains that I know. While I earlier had a bit cumbersome herumfuchteln in the wheel behind the tires to find the lock and open, considering the Pewag Servo easy before and pushes them apart laterally and even the closure of himself jumping on. Excellent!